Oct 6, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Commonwealth Stadium. Mississippi State won 27-14. Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE
With more and more injuries occurring each week, there are more concerns than just wins and losses for UK head coach Joker Phillips. During Monday’s press conference, Phillips stated that freshman QB Patrick Towles was listed as week-to-week with a high ankle sprain, and was ruled out for Saturday’s game at Arkansas. Phillips said, however, he could still be eligible for a medical redshirt if he was not able to come back for the remainder of the 2012 season. Other players listed as day-to-day as the week progresses are Martavius Neloms, Ashely Lowery, Mikie Benton, and Kory Brown.
Having played 14 total freshmen up to this point in the season, UK is one of the top five teams in the country playing the most true freshmen. And as of this point, it will continue. The punt team will have 10 freshmen and one sophomore in DeMarco Robinson returning. But Phillips says that it’s “hard not to be excited for them (freshmen)”, and that they are making plays and doing what they can to help the team.
The continued injuries have forced Phillips and his staff to change their game plan over the course of the season. And Phillips says that it’s a challenge, especially with the freshmen on the team. “They don’t all know as much as they think they know. I was one of them, too. I thought I knew everything.”
